An effective way to stack gold, either as a hedge or for financial security, is to buy low-premium fractional gold coins. Some of the lowest premiums can be found in vintage gold coins. These include Pre-1933 US Mint gold coins as well as those minted throughout Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Most coins of this era were intended for circulation and use in merchant trade. They are minted from the same 21.6k gold found in modern American Gold Eagles and Krugerrands. However, these fractional gold coins, such as the 20 Francs Gold Coins, often carry the lowest premiums compared to modern bullion coins.
With uncertain economic times ahead and the anticipation of regulation in the cryptocurrency market, many investors are looking for a safer hedge.
British Gold Sovereigns
The Gold Sovereign from Great Britain is one of the most common vintage gold bullion coins. Although it has been minted since 1817, its history dates back much further.
Most incorporate the iconic image of King George slaying a dragon on the reverse, with a portrait of the reigning monarch at the time of minting gracing the obverse.
Each British Gold Sovereign coin contains .2354 troy ounces of gold, just shy of a 1/4 troy ounce. There are dozens of variations of the Gold Sovereign, minted in 22k, 91.67% gold.
Gold Sovereigns are widely recognized worldwide and are considered to be very liquid bullion coins. Since each coin contains just shy of a quarter ounce of gold, it is easy to store a tremendous amount of wealth in a compact amount of space.
Gold 20 Francs LMU
The Latin Monetary Union (LMU) was the establishment of a gold-backed “Euro” currency. It was established in 1865 by a treaty between France, Switzerland, and Italy. Other countries eventually joined, including Belgium, Spain, and others.
Each country was responsible for minting gold and silver coins that adhered to a standard based on the French Franc. The 20 Francs gold coins were minted by dozens of mints throughout Europe and other parts of the world by the millions spanning multiple decades.
The United States even expressed interest in joining and developed several “pattern coins,” including the legendary Stella $4 gold coin. The Stella coin got its name from the Latin translation of “star,” referring to the reverse.
The designs vary by country of origin, but most include a portrait of the reigning leader of the country at the time of minting on the obverse. The reverse will also depend on the issuing country but will often display the term “20 Francs” or some variation.
Some also include the local country currency. For example, the Italian 20 Francs Coin also includes “20 Lira,” the Hungarian 20 Francs includes the designation of “8 Forint,” Austria includes “8 Florin,” etc.
20 Francs Gold Coins have become very popular amongst stackers due to their low premiums and high liquidity. Each Coin is minted from 90% gold and contains .1867 troy ounces of pure gold.
Fractional Gold Ducat Coins from Austria & Hungary
The Gold Ducat was used as a trade coin. Trading merchants would use these gold coins to settle accounts for large transactions and international trade. The Ducat became popular with the Venetians when Venice was a popular trading destination. Many countries issued Gold Ducat coins.
Each Gold 1 Ducat coin contains roughly .1123 troy ounces of pure gold, 98.6% gold. Larger sizes, including the 4 Ducat, were minted.